Naveen

((I got nothin!))

Maleen:

I had been disappointed the next day when I hadn’t seen Talon around camp. I had expected him to come around with something he had shot for us to eat. I eventually asked Rina about him, and she said he had left during the night. My heart sunk at that. I couldn’t do much to defend myself, much less Wren, and I felt responsible for her. While I didn’t think Rina would hurt up, she didn’t have our best interests in mind. While Talon was a stranger as well, he at least wasn’t a human, he didn’t have the idea that creatures like us were only good for one thing.

Even though I was a little scared and untrusting of Rina, I started to like her over the next few days. She loosened up once Talon left and she would actually talk to us like we were people. She started talking to me about what would happen once we got to the rebel camp. She told me that she would stay with me and keep them from hurting me. They just wanted my help, she said..

Rina:

We were about a day out from the camp and I was starting to have doubts about taking Maleen in. I honestly didn’t know what they wanted to do with her. When I had left, when they sent me to get her, they said it was a weapon I was going to get, that it was dangerous. But she wasn’t dangerous, she was barely even powerful. She knew a few neat tricks and spells, but that was all… If she wouldn’t be of any use to them, why take her to them? Wren I knew I could keep with me, they wouldn’t know what she was. She seemed human, she acted relatively human for the most part. She had done well in the past week.

Wren:

I stretched as I slid off of the horse. I was tired from the long trip we had made today. And I was glad to finally be taking a break. I still had no idea what we were going this way for, and the girls didn't talk much about it while I was awake. From the one time I had stayed up it was something to doing about working.

Rina:

I dusted myself off once on the ground and looked around. “We can stay here for the night.” I told them though it was still a couple hours until sunset. I wanted to give Maleen a little more time.

Maleen:

I took the tent down and started setting it up since we were staying. “I’ll go collect wood.” I said softly once I was finished and headed off a little ways to a tree I had seen a bunch of fallen branches under.

Wren:

I started gathering the stuff out of the bags to make dinner. We were low on food, so it was good we were going to get into town tomorrow. I was excited about that, I had never been in a place with lots of people!

Rina:

I tended to the horses, brushing them off and loosening their saddles. A sharp scream brought my attention up suddenly. My eyes searched around for the girls but I only spotted Wren. “Stay here!” I told her urgently leaving Iris behind with her as I ran off in the direction of the scream. I drew my sword as Aero raced ahead. There was another yelp, this time clearly coming from a man. I stepped into view of Maleen and the two men around her. “The hell Rina?” One of them said, wincing as he pulled my dagger from his calf. “drop him.” I hissed to which he complied still cringing from his burning wound. Aero flow back to me. Maleen was on her knees, gagged and hands tied behind her back. “Caught your little runaway witch.” The younger of the two said, Jake. Brian who had been stabbed sat his round self-down close to her holding onto his bleeding calf. I stood frozen and conflicted, watching Maleen. She looked terrified.

Wren:

I shifted nervously, a pan in hand as I gazed off in the direction Rina had gone. I felt alone like this, and I wasn't sure I wanted to be alone...

Rina:

I whistled softly and Iris came flying. I snatched her up and went over to Brian and pressed the flat side of the blade over his wound, sucking all the heat out. I let her go and she Joined Aero. “Let her go, she isn’t dangerous and she wasn’t running away.” I ordered. “Not taking chances. We were sent to find you and bring her back. You were taking too long.” Jake said. “Yeah well you can let her go, I’ve had her for over a week, she isn’t a threat.” I hissed. Two other men who I had never met rode up to us.

Wren:

I sat down unhappily and waited for Rina to come back with Maleen. I finally broke my eyes from the tree's to start drawing in the dirt with a finger. I did glance up occasionally as I waited.

Maleen:

I could barely understand what was going on, my stomach was twisted in knots and my ears were ringing from fear. Rina wanted the men to let me go and the wouldn’t. She got into a fight with one of then and sliced his arm open when he tried to restrain her. The original guy who had tied me up called him off and talked to Rina. Next I was being dragged onto a cart pulled by one of the horses and tied to it while Rina just stood there watching.

Wren:

I sighed softly, continuing to wait. What could I do? Rina was my friend, and she told me to wait while she got Maleen. So I might as well wait right?

Rina:

I went back to camp cursing. I went straight to the horses without looking at Wren. I tightened the straps of the settle and mounted it.

Wren:

I scrambled to my feet when Rina came back, a smile on my face. The smile slowly died out though, and my shoulders slumped as she climbed onto her horse.

Rina:

“Wren. Come here.” I motioned her over to the horse.

I nodded slowly, setting the pan down and moving over to her, I bit my lip as I asked softly. "Is everything alright? Where is Maleen?"

Rina:

“No. She’s gone. I’m going to go get her. It might be dangerous for you. If I can’t get her out by talking I might have to do it forcefully, and in that case I won’t be able to watch over you. But your other option is to stay here alone, and I definitely won’t be able to watch over you then. SO are you coming or staying?” I asked.

I paused, not liking either option. "Going. You and Maleen are my friends. I wouldn't want to be away from either of you."

Rina:

I nodded. Get onto the other horse, we have to go quick. I want to beat them there. And not a word about what you are or who you are. Got it?” I asked seriously.

I nodded rapidly, going over to the other horse after grabbing up what I had taken out. I stuffed it into the first available bag before climbing onto the horse and leaning over to grab the reigns of the third horse so it would follow us.

Rina:

I nudged my horse to go and started leading the way to the camp on back roads.

I followed behind her, worry taking hold of my heart as I rode.

Maleen:

Struggling was useless. I tried to wiggle out of my bonds but only accomplished getting hit across the face for trying to escape. I wasn’t.. I was just miserably uncomfortable and scared. And now I had a nasty bruise forming on my cheek. I couldn’t heal myself, they were burning some kind of black smoke that dampened my powers. How could Rina just let me go like this? She said she would protect me from harm.. Then, Talon had said he would help me too. There weren’t any people I could actually trust, except Wren, but she wasn’t in a position to help me.

Wren:

I adjusted my tunic a little as we rode, unable to do anything else. I worried about my freind, praying she was okay.

Maleen:

We finally arrived at their camp. There were at least fifty men with weapons –and a few women- most giving me a disgusted look when they saw me. Why was I so bad? They wanted me here after all didn’t they? They chained me to a post outside of a big tent and set the burning incense close to me, to keep me from using magic, not that I knew any that would help me. I looked around frightened, but also curious. I had never seen so many people all at once.

Rina:

I rode up on a little hill over-looking the camp. “Wren you should probably stay here.” I told her while dismounting the horse.

Talon:

I made a motion to my soldiers and they got to their feet, another curt move and they spread in a circle. I grabbed a small bag out of my pack and moved carefully across the space to kneel down in front of Maleen. I opened the bag and drew out the loaf of bread inside as well as the waterskin. "Thirsty?" I asked softly, my eyes flashing up to hers.

Wren:

I sighed and nodded unhappily, I didn't want to be left alone, let alone not be able help Maleen. I dismounted my horse and leaned against it, my shoulders slumped a little.